Strontium composition and-process



United States Patent O i 3,165,475 STRGNTIUM COMPGSITION AND-PROCESS OF MAKHNG IT 7 Lawrence C. Amos, Longview, Wash, assignor to the United States oi America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission No Drawing. Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,241

3 Ciaims. (Cl. 252-301.1) V

The subject matter of this application is a novel strontium-containing composition and in particular a composition containing radioactive Sr The application also deals with a process of preparing the novel composition.

Sr in the form of inorganic salts is used as a heat source for thermoelectric generators.

Usually Sr is recovered from solutions obtainedin the processing of neutron-irradiated uranium fuel intheform of Water-insoluble compounds, such as strontium oxide or strontium carbonate. These compounds are powders, the shipping of which can become hazardous when the containers are damaged; the loose radioactivityemitting powders then are dispersed into the atmosphere and can be inhaled by human beings.

It is an object of this invention to prepare Sr 9-containing compounds in a dense and compact form, safef or',

shipping.

Example 7 To each mole of strontium carbonate, 0.85'mole of? lithium fluoride was added, and the mixture was fused at a temperature of about 900 0, preferably under agitation, until a homogeneous viscous-liquid was obtained. The mass was then allowed to cool to room temperature. 'A rock-like product was obtained that had 7 a density of about 3.2 g./cm. The product dissolved in tap water of a-rate of 0.002 g./l1r./cm. or" exposed surface f I An analogous experiment was carried out under iden-- tical conditions, but using strontium oxide instead of strontium carbonate. The product showed a water solubility of 0.08 g./hr./cm. ,Both strontium compositions were readily soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid and in dilute nitric acid. I I V It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to "the details given herein but that it maybe modified within the scope of the appended'claims.

What is claimed is: 1 e

. mixing a strontium compound selected from the group It is another object of this invention to preparecompounds of Sr that are soluble in dilute acids, such as" hydrochloric or nitric acid, so that they are easily convertible to other compounds desired.

These objects are accomplished by mixing strontium oxide or strontium carbonate powders with fluoride, melting the mixture wherebya homogeneous viscous mixture is obtained and cooling the mass for solidification. 7

Lithium fluoride is preferablyjadded inankamount of. between 0.85 and 5 moles per. one mole of strontium f compound. The temperature should be at least 800; in order to melt the mass, but it is'preferably about 870.

C. or above.

'hold PublishingCo 1956, page 1037. v

consistingof strontium oxide and strontium carbonate with lithium fluoride,melting the mixture obtained at '7 above 800 C. whereby it reacts, coolingthe reaction product, andrdissolving thereaction product mineral acid.

added in aquantity of between 0.85 and I w p 5 moles per one mole ofstrontium compound.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein'the melting; temperature is about 900 C. H p g a References Cited by the Examiner Ludekens et a1. Chem;"Abs.,

AEC Dome... c -57 2 20, Mar. 12,1957. 1

' flThe Condensed.Chemical'Dictionaryfifth edition,Rein- ,ca ENews, December ;1, 196 1;, pages 2. 4:.

Patented Jan. 12,1965

1. A method of handling strontium consisting in 2. The process of 1 whereinlithium iiuorideis' vol. 47,. 4723 to4724' 

1. A METHOD OF HANDLING STRONTIUM90 CONSISTING IN MIXING A STRONTIUM90 COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STRONTIUM90 OXIDE AND STRONTIUM90 CARBONATE WITH LITHIUM FLUORIDE, MELTING THE MIXTURE OBTAINED AT ABOVE 800*F. WHEREBY IT REACTS, COOLING THE REACTION PRODUCT, AND DISSOLVING THE REACTION PRODUCT IN MINERAL ACID. 